PROF. BLACK AT OREPUKI

Western Star, Issue 1015, 13 January 1886, Page 2

PROF. BLACK AT OREPUKI

In accordance with announcement in our last issue, Professor Black gave a lecture in the schoolroom, Orepuki, on Saturday evening. The building was well filled by an audience that manifested great interest in the subject of the lecture—" How Quartz Reefs were Formed." Mr Hirst, M Hll, briefly introduced the lecturer, who was received with applause. He expressed the pleasure it gave him to visit Orepuki once more and renew the acquaintances he made during his previous visit, 14 years ago. He then explained that the series of lectures he intended giving would be of very little U3O without the test classes, at which the miners themselves would do the experiments under his instruction. He therefore advised all who could possibly make it convenient to attend the classes to do so, and explained that these would be held on Monday afternoon and all day on Tuesday, while lectures would be delivered each e7ening. On Monday they would be instructed how to apply liquid tests to various metals, such as gold silver, copper, tin, iron, &c, so that would be able to prove them when met with, and on Tuesday miners would do the siones themselves. It was a great mistake to send specimens to Duuedin or Melbourne to bo tested; miners ought to be able to da that themselves. A professional miner ought to be an all-round man, and be abl<> to test mat-rids, and his object was to put them in the way of doing so. The li'Cturo and experiments that evening werr merely introJuctory. On Monday lie would show how gold cimo into quartz, and how nuggets were formed, aud he inckientally mentioned that he would Bubmit avg in proof of the theory that nuggets grew His theory as to what brought the quartz into the reefs was that oxygen and carbonic aei'.t were the uetive agents. His verbal and practical explanations of the action of thess gases was very interesting. He discarded the old theory that heat was the agent that brought quartz into reefs. That idea was formed upon insufficient data. The science of chemistry was not so well known fifty years ago as it was at the 'present day, and hence opinions were formed regarding such matters that wei-e now considered to be unsound. Crevices were formed in the mica schist by shrinkage of rock from a high temperature to a low one, and without doubt carbonic acid was the active agent in filling these crevices with quartz. The lecture and experiments lasted till nearly 11 o'clock, but the audience showed no disposition of weariness ; ■ on the contrary, a feeling of regret seemed to prevade all at their termination. On the motion of Mr A.. Cassels a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Professor Black for his interesting lecture. During his stay at Orepuki the Professor found time to visit a number of the claims there, the coalpit, and the Waiau diggings. He also paid a visit to the Round Hill, and examined the workings. But unlike some people who know much less of the subject, he does not profess to be well posted up in geology ; had Professor Ulrich formed one of the parly, doubtless that side of the question would hive been fully expounded. As far as ehemistry can be made applicable to the successful pursuit of mining, however, Dr Black's instruction is full of practical benefit., as was evident by his hints on the treatment of auriferous sulphides, the chlorine process of extracting gold from pyrites, the sodium amalgam process of amalgamation of copp«r plites, &c.